How to Backup Only New or Changed Files in Windows 10 [2 Ways]

You can copy only new files to an external hard drive in Windows 10 by using the built-in "File History" feature or a third-party backup software. With File History, you can set up a backup location and schedule, and it will only copy new or changed files to the external drive. Alternatively, you can use a backup software like Qiling Backup, which allows you to select specific files or folders to backup and only copy new files to the external drive.

PAGE CONTENT:

Can I backup only changed files in Windows 10
Method 1. Back Up Only New/Changed Files to External Hard Drive With Software
Method 2. Back Up Only Changed/New Files in Windows 10 via Backup and Restore

Can I backup only changed files in Windows 10?

To back up only changed files in Windows 10, you can use File History, but also consider using the built-in "File History" feature in conjunction with the "Libraries" feature. Libraries allow you to store files in a single location and can be used to track changes to specific files. By using Libraries with File History, you can back up only the changed files.

To back up only the files that have been altered in Windows 10, you can use the built-in feature called "File History" or a third-party backup software like Acronis, EaseUS, or Macrium. File History will automatically save copies of your files to an external drive or network location, but you can also manually select specific folders to back up. Alternatively, you can use a backup software that can detect and back up only the changed files, such as the built-in Windows Backup feature or a third-party tool like Veeam or Duplicati. Make sure to choose a backup method that suits your needs and provides the desired level of protection for your files.

Windows 10 allows backing up only changed files, but the process is complex. You can use the built-in File History feature to back up changed files, but it requires an external drive and some setup. Alternatively, you can use third-party backup software that can monitor and back up changed files, such as Acronis or EaseUS. However, these solutions may require some technical expertise to set up and configure.

To execute this task in Windows 10, you can follow either method by applying powerful backup software for Windows 10 and the Windows 10 Backup and Restore feature for help.

Follow a step-by-step guide to learn how to copy and create a backup of your changed files using the next two methods.

Method 1. Back Up Only New/Changed Files to External Hard Drive With Software

For most Windows beginners, it's wise to use Windows backup software to update and create a backup of only altered files like music, images, documents, and videos on a Windows 10 PC.

Powerful backup software - Qiling Backup with its incremental backup function can help.

Qiling Data Backup Software

Back up only changed files, such as documents, photos, audio, music, and emails, to efficiently save space and time.
Backing up your Windows OS, hard disk partitions, and even cloning your disk are all possible with this software.
Compress the backup image to save storage space on your PC or external hard drive.

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Tutorial: Back Up Only Changed or New Files to External Hard Drive with Qiling Backup

Before you start, make sure your external hard drive is empty and connected to your computer. Begin by following these steps:

Step 1. Open Qiling Backup and select "File backup".

As time passes, you'll likely accumulate a significant amount of important data, including documents, photos, music, and videos. To safeguard this valuable information, it's a good habit to regularly back up your files, ensuring they remain safe and accessible in case of any unexpected events.

Step 2. Select the files that you want to back up.

If you only want to back up specific file types from a folder, use the option at the top right corner to exclude other files.

Step 3. Select a destination to save your backup file.

Step 4. Click "Schedule" to create an automatic incremental backup.

To schedule a weekly backup, select "Weekly" as the backup frequency, choose "Sun" as the day of the week, and set the backup method to Incremental.

Our software will start with a full backup, and then run a backup task for changed files every Sunday.

Notice:

For your first full backup, the process may take longer as it needs to image all selected files. Just take a little rest and wait patiently, and you'll be all set.

If you have enough space, you can choose to take a full backup and an incremental backup at the same time, which can save space but takes a lot of disk space.

Step 5. Click "Proceed" to save the task and execute the full back up.

Once done, it will automatically execute an incremental backup on a set day.

After the first full backup, Qiling Backup will automatically backup only the files that have been altered in Windows 10, requiring no further action.

Method 2. Back Up Only Changed/New Files in Windows 10 via Backup and Restore

To create a scheduled backup plan using the Windows built-in tool Backup and Restore (Windows 7), you can follow these steps: Go to Start > Control Panel > System and Security > Backup and Restore (Windows 7). Click on "Set up backup" and select the drive you want to back up to.

To back up your files, you can use the built-in backup feature in your device. However, if you want to manually back up specific files, you can do so by copying them to a safe location, such as an external hard drive or cloud storage. This way, you can ensure that your important files are safely stored and can be easily accessed in case of any data loss.

Step 1. Connect an external hard drive with enough space to your PC.

Step 2. Press Windows + S keys, type Control Panel in the Search box, and click to open Control Panel.

Step 3. Click "Backup and Restore (Windows 7)" to open it.

Step 4. On the right pane, click "Set up backup".

Step 5. Select the external hard drive to save your backup and click "Next".

Step 6. Select the files you want to back up.

Windows 10 has the option to follow the default settings or allow users to customize their experience. This flexibility enables users to tailor their interface, features, and overall user experience to their preferences.

Step 7. On the set up backup window, tick "Run backup on a schedule", set the plan and click "OK".

Here, you need to set the backup schedule for how often, what day for the new backup, which will add newly changed files to your next backup. This will ensure that your data is consistently backed up and up-to-date.

Step 8. Click "Save settings and run backup".

Files that have been modified or created since your last backup will be added to your backup, following the schedule you've set.

Sum Up

If you need to back up important Windows 10 files that have changed recently, there are two reliable ways to do so. For a hassle-free experience, Qiling Backup is a recommended option, as it is secure and reliable.

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